Court Sets Feb 7 8 For Hearing Of Najib S Appeals

---

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has set two days beginning Feb 7 to hear three appeals by former prime minister Najib Razak over interlocutory matters in relation to his criminal charges on SRC International funds
Court of Appeal registrar Norsharidah Awang set Feb 7 and 8 to hear the appeals during case management in chambers today
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Izzat Fauzan, who appeared for the prosecution, told reporters that the appeal hearings would be held at 2.30pm
The three appeals are related to Najib’s application for a gag order to prohibit the media from discussing the merits of his cases, his application for the discovery of documents and statements, and over his challenge to the appointment of lawyer Sulaiman Abdullah as lead prosecutor in his criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering cases
Izzat said the grounds of judgment and records of appeal for the appeals relating to the discovery of documents, and on Sulaiman’s appointment as lead prosecutor, were ready
On Oct 31 last year, parties in the appeal received the grounds of judgment relating to the gag order
Najib, 65, faces seven criminal charges over funds belonging to SRC International totalling RM42 million: three for criminal breaches of trust, one for abuse of power and three for money laundering
The court has set Feb 12 for trial
On Aug 10 last year, High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali dismissed Najib’s application for a gag order after finding his application unsustainable
On Dec 19, meanwhile, the High Court dismissed Najib’s application to obtain a copy of the appointment letter authorising Sulaiman to lead the prosecution in the SRC International case
Deputy public prosecutor Budiman Lufti Mohamed also appeared for the prosecution, while lawyers Syahirah Hanapiah and Farhan Read represented Najib. -FMT

---